Uttar Pradesh Charts a Bold Tourism Roadmap at Viksit UP @2047 Workshop
Uttar Pradesh consolidated its position as India’s most vibrant tourism powerhouse by hosting a high-impact, one-day workshop on “Viksit Uttar Pradesh @2047” at Yojna Bhawan, Lucknow, on November 27, 2025, bringing together senior policymakers, administrators, sectoral experts and industry stakeholders. The workshop – designed to shape the long-term tourism vision of the state – saw an extraordinary convergence of leadership, ideas, and future strategies.
The event was graced by senior dignitaries including Mr. Awanish Awasthi, Advisor to the Uttar Pradesh Chief minister; Mr. Amrit Abhijat, Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism; Mr. Amit Bhardwaj, Deputy Advisor, Tourism & Culture, NITI Aayog; Mr. Ranjan Kumar, Principal Secretary, AYUSH; Mr. Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary, Planning & Programme Implementation; Mr. Rajesh Kumar, Director General, Department of Tourism; and Ms. Eesha Priya, Special Secretary, Department of Tourism.
A special address was delivered by Mr. Manoj Kumar Singh, CEO, State Transformation Commission, Government of Uttar Pradesh, who outlined transformative pathways for inbound tourism, wellness tourism, and infrastructure modernization.
Tourism: The Engine of UP’s Growth Story
In a major revelation, officials announced that Uttar Pradesh had welcomed 121 crore (12.1 billion) tourists between January – June 2025, reinforcing its position as India’s most visited state. The exponential growth strongly aligns with the state’s aspiration to become a one-trillion-dollar economy.
The tourism department disclosed that from 22 crore visitors in 2015, tourist footfall had skyrocketed to 65 crore in 2024, excluding the massive influx anticipated during Mahakumbh 2025.
Mr. Awanish Awasthi noted that the numbers reflect the state’s rising global visibility: “Tourism is an evergreen sector. Uttar Pradesh ranks first in domestic tourism and fourth in foreign tourist arrivals. With a month still left, 2025 is moving towards a new record.”
Principal Secretary Amrit Abhijat highlighted major initiatives, including the creation of new tourism circuits, sustainable tourism models, and a new world-class museum planned for Mathura.
Director General Rajesh Kumar added that 12 tourist circuits have been designed with special emphasis on yoga, wellness, and pilgrimage tourism, aligning with the state’s deep cultural legacy.
Infrastructure, Innovation & Future-Ready Tourism
The workshop emphasized that Uttar Pradesh’s rapid infrastructure expansion is reshaping travel behaviour and boosting tourism flows. New expressways, expanded airports, upgraded railway stations, and Vande Bharat corridors have significantly enhanced connectivity.
Planning Principal Secretary Alok Kumar highlighted NITI Aayog’s support for the 2047 roadmap. He urged the tourism sector to create awareness about the fossil park in Sonbhadra and develop at least three-day tour packages around it.
UPSTDC Managing Director, Mr. Ashish Kumar, announced redesigned tour packages aimed at increasing average stay, curating experiential activities, and optimizing government tourism assets.
Eco-Tourism Director Mr. Pushp Kumar presented innovative projects in wetland restoration, wildlife corridors, and nature tourism across Dudhwa, Pilibhit, and Katarniaghat, which are emerging as model eco-destinations.
Thematic Sessions: Insights That Shaped the Tourism Vision 2047
Panel 1: “Cultural Pathways to Prosperity – Building a Future-Ready Tourism Ecosystem in Uttar Pradesh”
Moderated by Mr. Prateek Hira, Chairman FICCI and Founder President & CEO of Tornos India, the first session convened eminent scholars, administrators, and cultural specialists. The panel brought together Ms. Nerupama Modwel, Principal Director, Intangible Cultural Heritage, INTACH; Prof. Nachiketa Tiwari from IIT Kanpur; Mr. Ashish Kumar, Managing Director of UPSTDC; Prof. Mandvi Singh, Vice Chancellor of Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya; Mr. Rajeev Dwivedi, Director of Vrindavan Shodh Sansthan; Mr. Vishwa Bhusan, CEO and Kashi Vishwanath Dham Representative; and Mr. Jayant Krishna, UP Chapter Convenor of INTACH.
The panel analysed Uttar Pradesh’s unparalleled cultural and civilizational wealth, from the spiritual magnetism of Varanasi and Mathura to the intangible heritage of arts, crafts, music, and traditional knowledge systems.
Discussions explored pathways to preserving intangible cultural assets, strengthening creative and performing arts ecosystems, weaving culture into tourism circuits, harnessing technology for interpretation centres and digital tourism, building capacity for community-led cultural experiences, and creating authentic engagements with local traditions.
The session underscored that cultural tourism – supported by research, authenticity, and local participation – will remain central to positioning Uttar Pradesh among India’s leading travel destinations.
Panel 2: “Tourism Vision 2047”
In the second session, also moderated by Mr. Prateek Hira, a distinguished panel of industry leaders, strategists, and domain experts explored futuristic opportunities and imperatives for Uttar Pradesh’s tourism economy. The panel included Mr. Ajoy Kumar Bhattacharya (IFS Retd.); Dr. Rupak De (IFS Retd., Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Uttar Pradesh); Mr. Manvendra Singh from The MRS Group; Commander Sumit Ghosh, Former Indian Navy Submarine Officer; Mr. Amaresh Tiwari, Governing Body Member of India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB); Mr. Manish Kumar, CEO of Back To Village; and Mr. Sameer Bajaj, Head of Corporate Communications & Corporate Affairs at MakeMyTrip.
The discussion focused on boosting inbound tourism to global levels, positioning Uttar Pradesh as a major MICE destination, leveraging digital platforms and hospitality innovation, strengthening eco-tourism and rural tourism clusters, creating globally competitive tourism products, building community resilience and skills for future tourism jobs, and ensuring sustainability and balanced development of heritage sites.
The panel advocated for a robust marketing strategy, greater private-sector participation, destination-based skill development, and a strong branding push to align Uttar Pradesh with global tourism benchmarks.
Director Tourism (Eco) Shri Pushpa Kumar K. delivered the Vote of Thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, experts, and stakeholders for their valuable insights and collaborative spirit.
A State on the Rise: The Road to Viksit UP 2047
The workshop concluded with a collective vision: to transform Uttar Pradesh into a world-class tourism destination by 2047 – sustainable, inclusive, culturally rich, globally competitive, and deeply connected to its heritage.
With record tourism numbers, unprecedented infrastructure development, policy reforms, and a collaborative approach across government and industry, Uttar Pradesh is poised to lead India’s next tourism growth wave.
Viksit UP 2047 is no longer just a vision – it is evolving into a powerful reality.
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